Israeli minister says there are no S-300 missile systems in Syria

JERUSALEM, June 3 (UPI) -- Russia has not sent S-300 missile defense systems to Syria but may do so next year, Israel's defense minister said.

"If [Russia] makes the delivery, it is likely to occur in 2014," Moshe Ya'alon said in his frst appearance before the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Monday, Israel Radio and Channel 10 reported.

Recently, in an interview on Hezbollah's al-Manar station, Syrian President Bashar Assad said his country had already received some of the Russian-made missile defense systems and expected to receive more in the near future.